Cleveland County teens are closer to having a safe place to do homework, learn about making healthy choices, or just be a kid, thanks in part to a gift from the estate of a former Cleveland County resident. Jack Weller, President of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland County, said a generous donation will help make a new Teen Center move from a dream to reality.
The new Teen Center will be known as the Mable Hamrick Whisnant Teen Center. Weller shared that the Boys & Girls Club received over $200,000 from Whisnant. It represents 40% of the money needed to meet the goal to make the Teen Center possible.
Late last year, the Boys & Girls Club was notified that it would receive a donation from the estate of Mable Hamrick Whisnant. Whisnant, who was one of nine children born to A.W. and Leah Hamrick, Mooresboro, grew up picking cotton on the family farm. She was one of eight girls and one boy in the family. She learned early the value of hard work and a generous spirit.
The Teen Center will be located at the gymnasium on the Central Services campus of Cleveland County Schools at Turning Point Academy. For nearly 50 years, the Boys & Girls Club has been impacting the lives of children in the county. By reaching out to the county’s teens, the organization hopes to reduce drop out rates, crime and obesity, as well as helping youth reach their full potential. When completed, the center will feature a game room, fitness center, classrooms, a computer center and a teaching kitchen and full-size gym for teens grades 7 - 12.
In 2007, Whisnant, who taught home economics in Lincoln County and Newton Conover Schools for more than 30 years, attended the Annual Awards Banquet with her sister, Mildred Hamrick Keeter-Davis. It was there that Weller first met her. Mildred Keeter-Davis received the Club’s Good Neighbor Award that evening for her work with the Boys & Girls Club for making the Club’s Life Skills Center possible. “Mabel came as Mildred’s guest and I think she was impressed by what we were doing to help kids,” Weller said. She wanted to know more about the children we serve and how the organization was helping them.
Mary Hutchins, who worked at North Newton Baptist Church where Whisnant attended most of her adult life, described Mable as a loving, warm person always ready to extend a helping hand.
“She took the time to know what somebody needed and she would meet that need,” Hutchins said. “So many times it seemed minute, but the amount of little things she did encompass such a wonderful life. She was a giver.” Hutchins said when she was with Whisnant, she felt as if she were in the presence of God’s love. This spirit of giving is a Hamrick family trait.
“We are using the slogan A New Century, A New Dream explained Weller. In 1967 a group of community leaders came together to build our current building. It has served us well over the past fifty years. Our dream for this century is to expand the program to serve teens,” Weller said. Whisnant’s willingness to help and her understanding of the need will contribute to the success of Cleveland County’s teens.
Provided by Rebecca Clark - Remembering Mable Clark Whisnant